Using empirical research methods to segment alumni markets, profile donors, prioritize prospects, and project realistic budgets becomes more important as fundraising goals expand. Projecting alumni growth and its impact on program and budget planning, profiling donors and nondonors, and ranking prospects are discussed. (MLW)

Outlines findings of a survey asking community college presidents in four states to list the questions and issues that should be given priority in college research agendas. Indicates that questions relating to student characteristics and success, curriculum, organizational and community development, articulation, faculty, and leadership were the…

Tips for college policy analysts include these: acknowledge personal biases; be flexible and inclusive; be realistic but creative in framing recommendations; build an outspoken advisory team; anticipate repetition; see the broad picture and detail; understand that implementation is the key to good policy; and do not surprise the president. (MSE)

Describes vital role that institutional research can play in helping college or university market itself more successfully to prospective students. Presents findings from College Candidate Reply Form, investigating accepted students' attitudes concerning sources of information provided by college and its characteristics, completed by 76 first-year…

Analysis of 50 years of Princeton University (New Jersey) annual-giving data found most variation in gift size and percentage of class giving can be explained by models based on reunion attendance, class identity, and fiscal year. These models can reveal trends in giving behavior and exceptional performance of particular classes. (Author/MSE)

Understanding the climate and culture of the campus is essential to improving organizational effectiveness. Institutional researchers will be influenced increasingly by research in this area, by improving their awareness, defining important dimensions of the institutional culture, establishing benchmarks for future reference, actively undertaking…

The study proposes using path analysis and residual plotting as methods supporting environmental scanning in strategic planning for higher education institutions. Path models of three levels of independent variables are developed. Dependent variables measuring applications and enrollments at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University are…

A study investigated the effectiveness of two methods, workshop and individualized consultation, for improving instruction of full professors of physics with substantial teaching experience. It is concluded that neither method is very effective and that substantial and continuous expert consultation and investment of time and effort are required.…

The data collection matrix makes possible the integration of functional area data from numerous assessment sources and presentation of the information in a unified composite report. This model is discussed in relation to the various assessment instruments and the evaluation of functional areas and programs in colleges and universities. (Author/MSE)

The location of the institutional research unit within the organizational structure influences the role it plays in supporting effective decision making. A theoretical framework of organizational structure based on division of labor can be applied to higher education institutions, with implications for staffing and expectations for performance.…

Survey of state residents concerning the image of a regional university found either a general, positive opinion or none at all. Statistical modeling of results points to the significant components of university image and how they influence parents' decision to send a child to that institution, which in turn leads to better understanding of the…

Examines student affairs research offices in the United States and provides information on how the offices are structured and what types of research activities they conduct. Results show most offices prepare formal written reports and do oral presentations on campus. (GCP)

Reviews the unique perspectives and key points made in a collection of papers that focused on institutional research and student affairs research, offering suggestions for improved practice in both types of research and speculating about what a truly collaborative research effort might look like. (SM)

The work of the Commission on Gender, Race, and Class in Teacher Education Programs is grounded in the belief that it is impossible to make sense of the field of English education without using gender, race, and class as central categories of description and analysis. Rather, gender, race, and class are basic to the study and understanding of the…

The authors provide an overview of data mining, giving special attention to the relationship between data mining and statistics to unravel some misunderstandings about the two techniques. (Contains 1 figure.)